State forest dept sees 22 transfers

DEHRADUN: A total of 22 transfers occurred within the state forest department on Thursday. In a notable change, senior IFS officer Dhananjai Mohan has been appointed as the chairman of the Uttarakhand Biodiversity Board, while Vijay Kumar will assume the role of chief project director of Uttarakhand Forest Resource Management with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

However, controversy arose surrounding certain transfers, as cadre posts of IFS officers were allocated to state forest service officials even before their promotions. “Such transfers violate Indian Service cadre rules and also the ruling of the Supreme Court,” said a senior IFS officer of the department requesting anonymity.